Library Advisory Council Blog

Synopsis: A young adult named Katie has big plans for the future. Being a chef at an already successful restaurant called Seconds, she dreams of one-day opening one to call her own. She seems to be well on her way to making this dream a reality, that is until everything begins to fall apart. Now the only thing she can dream of is a second chance. She receives the ability to write down her mistakes in a notebook, ingest a mushroom, fall asleep, and awake anew, free from the past. This seems too good to be true, and as it turns out it is. As Katie's greed grows, so does something else lurking in the shadows of both her heart and restaurant.

This graphic novel by Bryan Lee O’Malley, creator of the Scott Pilgrim series, once again showcases his subversive techniques in writing, as he crafts a story with a simple premise and turns it on its head. O’Malley delicately balances humor with mature thematic content in a unique yet naturalistic manner. This added with his colorful cast of characters (and one of my now all-time favorite characters, Hazel) that are mostly very well fleshed out give this book an extremely cozy atmosphere that is inviting to readers. The art-style of the novel also helps with this as O’Malley trademark stylized characters and settings compliment the story’s tone and even with the cute looking characters, there is an inherent sense of real weight behind them, from their surprisingly human expressions to little mannerisms that give them each their own subtle flair. The artwork seems to follow the narrative as well with changing color schemes and stylistic choices to signify certain events. This attention to detail and expertise over his artform only enhance the reading experience along with pleasing page design. This is a story that grabs you and doesn't let you go until it’s finished, from both a visual and narrative standpoint. I highly recommend this work and ensure that it will keep readers coming back for seconds!